Lawmakers in Michigan are currently considering imposing a tax on electric vehicles. Michigan joins Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, and Washington, which are also considering a tax on both electric and hybrid vehicles. States currently collect taxes when drivers purchase gasoline that helps fund the construction of new roads and maintenance on existing roads.

The problem is that electric vehicles don't use gasoline at all and hybrid vehicles use less gasoline than a traditional car meaning states are seeing less tax revenue.

Michigan Rick Snyder (R) wants an additional $1 billion to repair roads around the state. In the past, Snyder has supported other ways to raise more money within his state including increasing the tax on fuel and increasing vehicle registration fees.

Governor Snyder said of Shirkey's plan, "I’d have to analyze that, but I’d say there’s competing interests on both sides of that question."

In Oregon, the plan would charge drivers of vehicles that get at least 55 mpg a tax on each mile driven after 2015. Oregon would also give drivers of efficient vehicles the option of paying a flat rate each year. Drivers of electric vehicles in Washington are expected have to pay a fee of $100 per year to help cover road maintenance.

The reason why roads in Michigan sucks is because its frigging Michigan. It snows for months at a time (hell, it snowed last night) and upkeep is getting more and more expensive. Now I'm not sure how taxing EV drivers will help with this (last time I checked, there weren't that many of those on the road).

I know this may sound tinfoil haty to some but I believe given that most of the car makers in Michigan are not making electrical vehicles, its possible this is just a scheme to discourage EVs in the state even further.

The roads in WI, OH, IN are not in the same condition. Our total gas tax is quite high, but a large percentage of it is currently SALES tax, which does not fund the roads. And the gas tax that is for the roads is a static amount (19 cents per gallon IIRC). Snyder did propose changing the taxation to a variable amount on the wholesale price, but the legislature here can't fathom such incredible change. :/ :P

quote: Now I'm not sure how taxing EV drivers will help with this (last time I checked, there weren't that many of those on the road).

Time for them to pay their "fair share" like the rest of us. It's just that simple.

quote: I know this may sound tinfoil haty to some but I believe given that most of the car makers in Michigan are not making electrical vehicles, its possible this is just a scheme to discourage EVs in the state even further.

???

Yeah that's pretty out there. If you can afford an EV, you can easily afford the same taxes you were paying before with your ICE car.